Locked pipe closure



Nov. .7, 1939.

A. LEWIS Loom) PIPE CLbSURE Filed March 3, 1938 Patented Nov. 7, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKED PIPE CLOSURE Arthur Lewis, Astoria,Long Island, N. Y. Application March 3, 1938, Serial No. 193.753

"I .Claims.

The invention has to do particularly with a plug or a cap for closingthe ends of pipes. It contemplates a device which may be readily. simplyandeasily applied to ,a pipe for the closure but-which may not beremoved from the pipe without marrlng or destroying a portion of theapparatus and onlyby use of a specially iormed key.

The threaded member which engages the pipe is associated with a covermember which is free to rotate thereon and which may be removedtherefrom only by marring or breaking a portion of the device. Anaperture in the rotatable member allows the'insertion of a key forengaging and rotating the threaded member. The key aperture in therotatable member is covered and sealed by a cap engaging the rotatablemember in such a way that the cap must be marred or broken in itsremoval.

The threaded member of the pipe closure may consist of a solid memberhaving threads on its outer sides to engage internal threads of a pipeor coupling, or the threaded member may'consist of a hollow, cap-likedevice threaded on its interior to engage the threads on the outside ofa pipe or the like.

In the accompanyin drawing, showing preierred forms of the device Figure1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a pipe closure appliedto an internally threaded coupling. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1with the covering cap removed. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of thethreaded member. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side and end elevationsof a key. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, broken away in part, of a closuremember installed on an externally threaded pipe. the cap being omittedand the key being shown in place. Fig. "I is a section on the line 1-1of Fig. 6.

Athreadedmemberiilisshowninl 'iglas screwed into a coupling II. Themember III is shown'threaded on its outer surface and is solid so thatwhen it is screwed into position it closes the coupling H and any pipesconnected therewith. The threaded member ll has an enlarged head Itwhichis provided in its outer surface with a circumierential annularslot i3. overlying the head I! is a hollow cap M. The opening in thehollow cap M is substantialLv the same size as the head l2 and they areboth shown cylindrical in iorm so that when the cap I4 is put ,in placeit neatly covers the head I2, and as illustrated, may extend slightlybeyond the inner edge of the head II. In the inner suriaceoithecapllisanannularrecess l5 adapted to be brought into register with therecess I3. Before the cap I4 is put in place a split ring it may be putin the cavity 13 and extend slightly therebeyond so that when the cap i4is put in place the split ring it will also engage 6 the annular cavityl5. This will hold the cap I in place on-the head I! and prevent itsremoval but will allow the cap M to rotate on the head-l2. As so closedit is impossible to rotate the threaded member I0 since only the cap isexposed and rotation of it' will not turn the threaded member. In theend of the head 12 is provided a recess or hole I! here illustrated as acircular hole placed eccentrically-in the head 12." In the end of thecap I! and overlying the hole I1 is an irregularly shaped hole [8. 'Asillustrated the hole 18 is formed from a centrally disposed circlehaving two more or less oppositely disposed tangents drawing toward eachother at the outer edge of the hole. The outer 2 end of the holeextending substantially so far from the center of the capv I; as theoutermost point in the eccentric hole I I.

For manipulation there may be provided a key having a stem l9 throughwhich passes a finger rod 20. The end of the key consists of a grippingmember 2! which corresponds in shape and size with the hole I 8. Betweenthe member 2| and the stem I9 is a reduced cylindrical portion 22. Thelower edge 23 of the stem is will preferably 80 be separated from thebase of the key 2| a dis tance substantially equal or a little greaterthan the distance from the bottom of the member I! from the outer faceof the cap I and the width of the slot between the end 23 and the keymem- 85 her 2| will preferably be slightly more than the thickness ofthe head of the cap ll. Thus the cap I may be turned so that the entireopening "overlies or is in register with the eccentrically arrangedopening I1. In this condition the key 40 may be inserted and the member2| will pass through the opening l8 and into the opening H. In thisposition the key may be turned either clockwise or counterclockwise andthe tip of the member 2i will engage the side wall of the opening I! andsince the stem 22 will rest against the side wall of the hole l8 themember 2l will snugly engage the wall of the hole 11 so that when thekey is turned the threaded member ill will turn with the key. By thismeans the threaded member may be withdrawn from its seat or forcedfurther on to or into its seat.

It will be understood that the device is one which may be operated onlyby a person having a properly formed key. To preventindiscrimithreaded-ma.

rmh mmmmm 2i mvuearornin'anmuthem I; at

l withahend'llmadeapllnndoflzerporfiona cover Becamefllepaflmdflaedevieemarredis-anandheen-ethe lying'entirely within the whe ofthe plug holebut in other relative. position; extending at least in Part beyond theperiphery of the plug hole, and means for locking themember and capagainst relative longitudinal movement but allowing relative rotarymovement between them.

8. In apipe seal, a threaded member-having an and including the centermite area, a cap having an aperture fitting over the side of the memberand having a. hole in its head, the periphery of the cap hole in onerelative position lying entirely within the periphery of the plug holebut in other relative poations extending at least in partibeyondtheperiphery of the plug hole, a

-keythrmighthecapholeandlntothe member hole and so proportioned inrespect to the holes at to turn and cause lateral impingement oi the keyawn-st the side of the member 'ge-soastocauaethemembertoturnwiththe 4.In a pipe seal, a threaded memherhaving an eccentrically arrangedcircular hole in its head and including the center in its, area, a caphaving an aperture fitting over the side of the memberahd having a holein its head, the perlphery oi the cap hole in one relative positionlying entirely within the periphery of the plug but in other relativepoaitiona'extending at lea-at in part he'yond the periphery of the plug'hole,'a key through the cap hole and into the'mcmber hole and soproportioned in 'nespecttotheholesastocauaethekeytotendtojambetweenonesideotonehol'eandanother"aideoitheotherholeeoastocauaetheensanble wturnwiththekey.

5.'In a pipe aeaLathl-eadedmember having aneccentrlcallyarrangedholelnits headand inchiding-thccmterinitsaremacaphavinginitsheadaholeabontitscenterandextending 'eccentrlcally arrangedcircularhole in it; head towardonecdgetooverlieandb'einregisterwith theeccmtrically arranged hole in one relative position of cap and' member.the holes at one pointintheircoincidinginmehpoaition,a'keyinaertiblethronghthecapholeinto the member hole so proportionedrin respectto theholes aa'to hind hetWeenthecolnciding pe- Manama-paramount wall or theholeinthememhergandmeansforlockingthehavinginitsheadaholeahoutltscenterandextendlngtonrdoneedgetooverlieandheinyg register um the eooentrlcalljmed hole in one relaflie position of can and member. means for lookingthe member and cap against relative longitudinal movement but allowinga. rehtive rotarymovunontbetweonthemmdakeyhavinganmentrlodlyarmmptodtopas

